The 2026 Rolex 24 At Daytona is scheduled to start at 1:40 p.m. local time (Eastern) on Saturday, January 24, 2026 at Daytona International Speedway.

Quick Scoop

  • Race start: 1:40 p.m. ET, Saturday, January 24, 2026.
  • Race duration: 24 hours, running through Sunday afternoon, January 25, 2026.
  • Event window: Full Rolex 24 weekend runs January 22–25, 2026 , with practice, qualifying, and support races before the main start.

In fan forums and race discussion threads, people usually treat “when does the Rolex 24 start” as shorthand for the green-flag time , which is consistently around mid-afternoon, and for 2026 that’s locked in at 1:40 p.m. Eastern.

If you’re planning to watch or attend

  • Be there early: Gates and fan activities open well before the 1:40 p.m. start, with practice, support series, and grid buildup earlier in the day.
  • Time zones: 1:40 p.m. Eastern is 18:40 GMT/UTC, which is often how international broadcasts and forum schedules list the start.

TL;DR: The Rolex 24 At Daytona in 2026 starts at 1:40 p.m. Eastern on Saturday, January 24, 2026.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.